Report Thailand Seizes 238 Tons of Illegal E-Waste from US at Klong Toey

[snoop1130]

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Thai officials have seized a staggering 238 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at Bangkok's Klong Toey port. This significant find, discovered on Tuesday during a random inspection, represents one of the largest e-waste hauls in Thailand this year.

 

The contraband, hidden within 10 large shipping containers, was falsely declared as mixed metal scrap. Instead, it contained circuit boards intermingled with metal debris, revealed Theeraj Athanavanich, the Customs Department's Director-General.

 

This seizure comes amid growing global concern over mounting electronic waste. A United Nations report from last year highlights that 62 million tons of electronic waste were generated worldwide in 2022, with projections reaching 82 million tons by 2030. Alarmingly, only 22% of this waste was correctly collected and recycled in 2022, with a forecasted decline to 20% by decade's end due to factors like increased consumption, limited repair options, and inadequate waste management.

 

Theeraj announced that Thai authorities plan to press charges, including false declarations of imported goods and unlawful importation of electronic waste. Proposals to return the waste to the US are also underway. "Taking action on these goods is crucial," Theeraj emphasized. "The environmental repercussions are hazardous, especially to communities near processing and recycling factories."

 

Electronic waste poses significant health risks due to the presence of toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium. While recyclers aim to extract valuable metals such as gold and copper from printed circuit boards, the absence of strict regulations often results in dangerous extraction methods, including burning plastics.

 

In response to these threats, Thailand enacted a ban on certain electronic waste imports in 2020, further expanding the list of prohibited items earlier this year. Sunthron Kewsawang, deputy director-general of the Department of Industrial Works, revealed suspicions about two factories in Samut Sakhon province possibly being involved in the waste's import.

 

This recent interception follows January's seizure of 256 tons of illegal e-waste from Japan and Hong Kong in Eastern Thailand, underscoring Thailand's ongoing battle against illegal imports of hazardous materials.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Thai Newsroom 2025-05-15

 

 

[JoePai]

Drop it on the White House lawn - let Dump sort it out   😎